The Graduate Program in Environmental Health Sciences has awarded more than 150 MS and 200 Ph.D. degrees since 1958. Listed below are the names of our Ph.D. graduates since 2000, their research area of study, titles of their dissertations and the names of their research mentors.

Ph.D. GRADUATES SINCE 2000

2009

Chunli Quan – Systemic Toxicology
Research Mentor:  Lung Chi Chen, Ph.D.
Comparative Effects of Diesel Exhaust and Ambient Particles on Cardiovascular System

Xiaoxing Wang – Molecular Toxicology/Carcinogenesis
Research Mentor:  Wei Dai, Ph.D.
Mechanisms Controlling Chromosome Stability During Cell Division

Lauren Tarantino Hutchison – Toxicology
Research Mentor:  Terry Gordon, Ph.D.
Beryllium-Induced Sensitization and Granulomatous Lung Disease in Murine Models

Qin Li – Molecular Toxicology/Carcinogenesis
Research Mentor:  Max Costa, Ph.D.
Regulation of c-Myc Expression by Ni Ions and Hypoxia

Gi Soo Kang – Systemic Toxicology
Research Mentor:  Lung Chi Chen, Ph.D.
Long-Term Effects of Inhaled Nickel Hydroxide Nanoparticles on the Progression of Atherosclerosis

2008

Audrey King Batoon - Molecular Toxicology/Carcinogenesis
Research Mentor:  Cathy Klein, Ph.D.
Mechanisms Underlying Prevention of Genomic Instability in Breast Tumor Cells by Genistein and Lycopene

Yian Gu - Epidemiology
Research Mentors:  Anne Zeleniuch-Jacquotte, M.D., Roy Shore, Ph.D., and Alan Arslan, M.D.
Circulating Cytokines and Risk of B-cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma”

Ramona Lall - Exposure Assessment and Health Effects
Research Mentor:  George Thurston, Sc.D.
A Source Apportionment and Time-Series Health Analysis of Fine Particle Air Pollution in New York City

Marijeanne  Liederbach - Ergonomics and Biomechanics
Research Mentor:  Ali Sheikhzadeh, Ph.D.
The Effect of Shoe Heel Height and Floor Incline on the Biomechanics of Landing from a Single Leg Jump in Elite Female Dancers

Michael Szarek - Biostatistics
Research Mentor: Judith Goldberg, Sc.D.
Estimation of the Distribution of Time to First Event in a Composite Endpoint from Interval Censored Observations with Incomplete Non-fatal Event Status

Heather Watson - Biostatistics
Research Mentor:  Judith Goldberg, Sc.D.
Spatial Statistical Methods Applied to Breast Cancer Incidence Data in New York State

Jangwhon Yoon - Ergonomics and Biomechanics
Research Mentor:  Ali Sheikhzadeh, Ph.D.
The Influence of Target Size and Weight on Trunk Muscle Recruitment in Different Lifting Speeds

Katherine Vega - Molecular Toxicology/Carcinogenesis
Research Mentor:  Maarten Bosland, Ph.D., D.V.Sc.
Exploring the Mechanisms through which Estradiol Enhances Testosterone-Induced Prostrate Carcinogenesis in the Noble Rat

Shira Schecter Weiner – Ergonomics and Biomechanics
Research Mentor:  Sherri Weiser, Ph.D.
Factors Influencing Physician Management of Nonspecific Low-Back Pain

2007

Marc Campo - Ergonomics and Biomechanics
Research Mentor:  Sherri Weiser, Ph.D.
Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders in Physical Therapists

Jessica E. Duffy-Whritenour  - Toxicology
Research Mentor:  Judith T. Zelikoff, Ph.D.
The Impact of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) on Neuroimmune Interactions in Fish: An Indirect Mechanism of PCB-Induced Immunotoxicity

Qingdong (Karin) Ke - Molecular Toxicology/Carcinogenesis
Research Mentor:  Max Costa, Ph.D.
Alteration of Histone Modifications by Nickel Compounds: Epigenetic Mechanisms

Vandana Mukhi - Biostatistics
Research Mentors:  Yongzhao Shao, Ph.D. and Judith Goldberg, Sc.D.
Statistical Issues in Design of Clinical Trials

Ping Zhang – Molecular Toxicology/Carcinogenesis
Research Mentor:  Max Costa, Ph.D.

2006

Haobin Chen - Molecular Toxicology/Carcinogenesis
Research Mentor: Max Costa, Ph.D.
"The Distrubance of Cellular Iron Regulation by Soluble Nickel Exposure, its Mechanisms and its Implications"

Todd Davidson - Molecular Toxicology/Carcinogenesis
Research Mentor: Max Costa, Ph.D.
"Effects of Soluble Nickel on Iron Homeostasis: Possible Role in Nickel-Mediated Carcinogenesis"

Robin Gillespie - Ergonomics and Biomechanics
Research Mentor: Manny Halpern, Ph.D.
"Investigating the Musculoskeletal Impact of Computer and Electronic Game Use on Children and Adolescents"

2005

Zachary Berger - Epidemiology
Research Mentor: George Friedman-Jimenez, M.D.
"Workplace Exacerbation of Asthma Symptoms in an Urban Hospital Population"

Evangelos Pappas - Ergonomics and Biomechanics
Research Mentor: Ali Sheikhzadeh, Ph.D.
"The Effect of Gender and Fatigue on the Biomechanics of Landing from a Jump"

Jonathan Eckard - Toxicology
Research Mentors: Krystyna Frenkel, Ph.D. and Xi Huang, Ph.D.
"Role of Iron and Iron Metabolism in Hypoxia Inducible Factor (HIF)-Mediated Events"

Chun Yi Wu - Toxicology
Research Mentor: Lung Chi Chen, Ph.D.
"Receptor Modeling of Volatile Organic Air Toxics in the Minneapolis/St. Paul Metropolitan Area"

Jing Han - Biostatistics
Research Mentors: Judith Goldberg, Sc.D. and Yongzhao Shao, Ph.D.
"Family-based Linkage Analysis Allowing for Missing Parental Information"

2004

Claudio Sorrentino - Toxicology/Aquatic
Research Mentor: Isaac I. Wirgin, Ph.D.
"Impact of Exposure to Metals on Gene Expression Induced by Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Its Ecotoxicological Implications"

Rita Yusuf - Molecular Toxicology/Carcinogenesis
Research Mentor: Krystyna Frenkel, Ph.D.
"Oxidative and Estrogen Receptor-Mediated Events in the Transformation of Human Breast Epithelial Cells MCF-10A"

Danielle Sheng - Biostatistics
Research Mentors: Mimi Kim, Ph.D. and Judith D. Goldberg, Ph.D.
"Statistical Issues in Equivalence and Non-Inferiority Trials"

2003

Zhanpeng Yuan - Toxicology/Aquatic
Research Mentor: Isaac I. Wirgin, Ph.D.
"Resistance of CYP1A1 mRNA Induction to Halogenated Aryl Hydrocarbons in Atlantic Tomcod (Microgadus tomcod) from the Hudson River - Its Prevalence and Mechanistic Basis

Shuaili Chen - Molecular Toxicology/Carcinogenesis
Research Mentor: Fredric J. Burns, Ph.D.
"Retinoid Action on Gene Expression Induced by Low-LET Irradiation of Rat Skin"

Samantha DeLeon - Exposure Assessment and Health Effects
Research Mentor: Kazuhiko Ito, Ph.D.
"The Role of Respiratory Disease as a Contributing Cause of Short-Term Non-Respiratory Mortality Associations with Ambient Particle Mass"

2002

Scott Wesselkamper - Toxicology
Research Mentor: Terry Gordon, Ph.D.
"Generation of a Mouse Model and Genetic Analyses of Potential Molecular Mechanisms in the Development of Pulmonary Tolerance"

Erik Carlson - Toxicology/Aquatic
Research Mentor: Judith T. Zelikoff, Ph.D.
"Benzo[a]pyrene-Induced Immune Alteration in the Japanese Medaka Oryzias latipes: Probing the Underlying Cellular Mechanisms"

Hakan Cangul - Molecular Toxicology/Carcinogenesis
Research Mentor: Max Costa, Ph.D.
"Cap43: A New Cancer Marker Protein Related to Tumor Hypoxia"

Marco Campello - Biomechanics and Ergonomics
Research Mentor: Margareta Nordin, Med.Dr.Sci.
"Physical and Psychosocial Predictors of Work Retention after a Multidisciplinary Rehabilitation"

2001

Marshall Hagins - Biomechanics and Ergonomics
Research Mentor: Ali Sheikhzadeh, Ph.D.
"Breath Control During Lifting on Intra-abdominal Pressure and Maximal Isometric Trunk Extensor Force"

Kenneth J. Harwood - Biomechanics and Ergonomics
Research Mentor: Sherri Weiser, Ph.D.
"The Process of Returning to Work Following an Episode of Disabling Low Back Pain: A Phenomenological Study"

Yair Hazi - Exposure Assessment and Health Effects
Research Mentor: Beverly S. Cohen, Ph.D.
"Measurements of Acidic Sulfates and Trace Metals in Fine and Ultrafine Ambient Particulate Matter: Size Distribution, Number Concentration and Source Region"

Joshua E. Muscat - Epidemiology
Research Mentor: Roy E. Shore, Ph.D., Dr.P.H.
"Handheld Mobile Phone Use and the Risk of Primary Brain Cancer"

2000

Daniel Formosa - Biomechanics and Ergonomics
Research Mentor: Margareta Nordin, Med.Dr.Sci.
"Automobile Instrument Panel Design: Reach Capabilities of Younger and Older Drivers"

Janeen R. Azare - Toxicology
Research Mentors: Max Costa, Ph.D. and Eliezer Flescher, Ph.D.
"Apoptosis of T Lymphoma Cells by P-glycoprotein Inhibitors"

J.A. Formisano, Jr. - Exposure Assessment and Health Effect
Research Mentor: Morton Lippmann, Ph.D.
"Analyses of the U.S. Navy's Occupational Exposure Database (NOED)"